Where was the world's oldest rock art discovered?

The world's oldest rock art, a hand stencil, was discovered in a cave on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia.

How old is the hand stencil found in Sulawesi?

The hand stencil discovered in Sulawesi is at least 67,800 years old, making it the oldest known example of rock art.

Who might have created the ancient Indonesian cave art?

The art was likely created by early Homo sapiens who were part of a population that spread into the lost continent of Sahul.

Home / Science / Oldest Art Found: Indonesian Cave Holds 67,800-Year-Old Hand

Oldest Art Found: Indonesian Cave Holds 67,800-Year-Old Hand

21 Jan

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Summary

Oldest known rock art is a hand stencil in Indonesia, dated 67,800 years ago.
Art found in Sulawesi may be by early humans who journeyed to Sahul continent.
Dating technique analyzed mineral crusts forming on top of the paintings.

Oldest Art Found: Indonesian Cave Holds 67,800-Year-Old Hand

A hand stencil discovered in a cave in Indonesia's Sulawesi is potentially the world's oldest rock art, with an age of at least 67,800 years. This remarkable find, made using ochre pigment, significantly pushes back the timeline for human artistic expression and complex behavior.

The ancient artwork, likely created by early Homo sapiens, offers insights into early human migration patterns. The findings suggest these early humans were part of a population that journeyed into Sahul, a lost continent encompassing modern-day Australia and parts of Indonesia.

This discovery challenges previously held beliefs about when humans first reached Sahul and their cognitive abilities. The dating of the art involved analyzing mineral crusts, known as cave popcorn, that formed over the paintings, providing a minimum age for the stencil.